Best Online Associate Degrees in Hawaii 2024

Badge for BEST ONLINE ASSOCIATE'S IN HAWAII

Top Online Associate Degree Programs in Hawaii

Sort by:
  1. Hawaii Pacific University
  2. Chaminade University of Honolulu
  3. Leeward Community College
  4. Hawaiʻi Community College
  5. Kapiʻolani Community College
  6. Kauaʻi Community College
  1. Hawaii Pacific University
  2. Chaminade University of Honolulu
  3. Leeward Community College
  4. Kapiʻolani Community College
  5. Hawaiʻi Community College
  6. Kauaʻi Community College
  1. Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
  2. Hawaii Pacific University 87%
  1. Leeward Community College 20 to 1
  2. Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
  3. Kapiʻolani Community College 15 to 1
  4. Hawaiʻi Community College 12 to 1
  5. Chaminade University of Honolulu 11 to 1
  6. Kauaʻi Community College 11 to 1
  1. Hawaii Pacific University $31,940
  2. Chaminade University of Honolulu $28,544
  3. Hawaiʻi Community College $3,144
  4. Kapiʻolani Community College $3,144
  5. Kauaʻi Community College $3,144
  6. Leeward Community College $3,144
  1. Chaminade University of Honolulu $25,200
  2. Hawaii Pacific University $20,306
  1. Kauaʻi Community College
  2. Kapiʻolani Community College
  3. Hawaiʻi Community College
  4. Leeward Community College
  5. Chaminade University of Honolulu
  6. Hawaii Pacific University
  1. Kauaʻi Community College
  2. Hawaiʻi Community College
  3. Kapiʻolani Community College
  4. Leeward Community College
  5. Chaminade University of Honolulu
  6. Hawaii Pacific University
  1. Hawaii Pacific University 87%
  2. Chaminade University of Honolulu 93%
  1. Chaminade University of Honolulu 11 to 1
  2. Kauaʻi Community College 11 to 1
  3. Hawaiʻi Community College 12 to 1
  4. Kapiʻolani Community College 15 to 1
  5. Hawaii Pacific University 16 to 1
  6. Leeward Community College 20 to 1
  1. Hawaiʻi Community College $3,144
  2. Kapiʻolani Community College $3,144
  3. Kauaʻi Community College $3,144
  4. Leeward Community College $3,144
  5. Chaminade University of Honolulu $28,544
  6. Hawaii Pacific University $31,940
  1. Hawaii Pacific University $20,306
  2. Chaminade University of Honolulu $25,200

Key Takeaways

  • Earning an associate degree is an affordable way to get started on your college education. The typical associate degree will take about two years to complete.

  • Many community colleges and two-year schools in Hawaii offer both traditional and online degree programs for students pursuing their associate degree in a wide variety of disciplines.

  • Students who earn their online associate degree in their state of residence are typically eligible for in-state discount rates. If you are a resident of Hawaii, finding an online associate degree here at home will typically be the most affordable way to begin your higher education.

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Hawaiʻi

The majority of the universities and colleges in The Aloha State are public institutions, including Hawaiʻi’s largest school, the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The nearly 15,000 students who attend this school pay tuition fees around $12,000. Students attending public colleges can choose between a wide range of on campus and online degree programs.

It’s also worth noting that you can receive in-state tuition discount rates for attending a public college in Hawaii, whether you enroll through a traditional or online degree program.

Hawaiʻi also offers several private school options, including two which have religious affiliations. While tuition at these private schools varies, from $6,000 at Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi to $26,000 at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, each serves between 2,000-3,000 students.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

Students who attend both brick-and-mortar and online colleges in Hawaii have the option to major in fields like biology, education, history, criminal justice, physics, and many others. However, students who graduate with degrees in the health care field have an extra advantage. Hawaiʻi offers a student loan forgiveness-based financial aid program for health care workers who work at designated, high-need locations within the state for at least two years.

So, even though Hawaiʻi comes in just above the national average for tuition costs, if you are considering a career in health care, this may be the place for you.

Some dream of vacationing in paradise - but why not take it a step further and live there? Students attending school in Hawaiʻi won’t have to say aloha, or goodbye, to the beautiful white sand beaches, perfect waves, and tropical drinks. Both traditional and online students can enroll in one of Hawaiʻi’s 15 higher education institutes and live their best life in these picturesque island communities.

For more information on obtaining your degree in Hawaiʻi, explore some of the top programs and schools this state has to offer.


What are Hawaiʻi’s Colleges & Universities?

Hawaiʻi’s Best Overall

What is an Associate Degree?

An associate degree is a two-year degree that can be earned at state community colleges, vocational schools, and most accredited colleges and universities.

What will I study with an associate degree?

The associate degree provides an introductory level college education. You will usually take an array of liberal arts or humanities courses along with introductory level courses in a specific subject area. Most associate degree programs are available to both on campus students and online students.

Why get an associate degree?

There are several good reasons to get an associate degree. An associate degree is an affordable and accessible way to get a college education while improving your earning potential. The associate degree is popular both among students looking for entry-level work in their field, and for those who are already working.

The online degree is particularly popular at the associate level because so many students must balance work responsibilities and studies. Online courses and complete online programs make it possible for students to earn associate credits and degrees without disrupting daily work responsibilities.

The associate is also a far more affordable and accessible alternative to earning a bachelor’s degree. The associate degree takes about half as long to earn as a bachelor’s degree. Associate students need 60 credits to graduate, versus the 120 credits needed for a bachelor’s degree. And many state community colleges offer low tuition rates.

Can I get a job with an associate degree?

You can get an entry-level job in your field with an associate degree. Many students will use the associate degree as a way to get relevant job training before entering the job market. In fact, many associates will pursue entry level work in their field while earning a bachelor’s degree through online education.

Should I get an associate degree before pursuing a bachelor’s degree?

You may want to get an associate degree first to save money, or improve your admission chances, before getting a bachelor’s degree. The associate degree is a popular stepping stone for students who will seek a bachelor’s degree. When you earn an associate degree from an accredited state community college, you can usually transfer your credits toward your bachelor’s degree program.

Can I get an online degree at the associate level?

You can definitely get an online degree at the associate level. A growing number of online colleges offer high-quality associate-level online courses and complete online programs. Online students will typically take the same courses and curricula as on campus students.

Are associate degrees from online colleges respected?

Online degrees at the associate level are respected as long as these online degrees come from accredited community colleges or two-year schools. Regional accreditation is important when it comes to online colleges. If you plan to go into a bachelor’s degree program at a regionally accredited school, you must earn your online degree from a regionally accredited associate degree program.

If you need more answers to frequently asked questions about online degrees, we can help.

Best Online Associate Degree Programs in Hawaii
Download Badge
Back to Top

Best Online Associate Degrees in Hawaii 2023

  1. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $32K

    Acceptance

    87%

    Graduation

    45%

    Student body

    6K

    Median SAT/ACT

    1150/23

    Career Outlook for degree at Hawaii Pacific University

    Cost of Degree: $31,940
    Expenses: $18,878
    Starting Salary: $56,400
    Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in General Business
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Supervisory Leadership
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Cybersecurity
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Homeland Security
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in General Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Health Professions
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  2. Other Rankings

    Tuition + fees

    $29K

    Acceptance

    93%

    Graduation

    66%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Chaminade University of Honolulu

    Cost of Degree: $28,544
    Expenses: $19,890
    Starting Salary: $41,000
    Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AA in Business Administration
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Criminology and Criminal Justice
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  3. #3

    Leeward Community College

    Pearl City , HI

    Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    28%

    Student body

    10K

    Career Outlook for degree at Leeward Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,214
    Starting Salary: $37,500

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Accounting
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2.5 years
    • Format: Online
    AA in Liberal Arts
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2.5 years
    • Format: Online
    AS in Management
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2-3 years
    • Format: Online
  4. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    31%

    Student body

    3K

    Career Outlook for degree at Hawaiʻi Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,204
    Expenses: $13,502
    Starting Salary: $30,300
    Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
    Paid back at 15% of annual salary

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Creative Media
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
  5. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    24%

    Student body

    9K

    Career Outlook for degree at Kapiʻolani Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,284
    Starting Salary: $43,200

    Online Associate Degrees

    AA in Liberal Arts

    Concentrations

    • General
    • Business Administration
    • Human Development and Family Studies
    • Social Work
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online
    AA in Hawaiian Studies
    • Required Credits: 60
    • Completion time: 2 years
    • Format: Online
  6. Tuition + fees

    $3K

    Graduation

    37%

    Student body

    2K

    Career Outlook for degree at Kauaʻi Community College

    Cost of Degree: $3,252
    Starting Salary: $40,200

    Online Associate Degrees

    AS in Business
    • Required Credits: 61
    • Completion time: None Reported
    • Format: Online

Hawaii is just one of many states offering excellent online associate’s degrees. To check out our rankings, look into the best online associate’s degrees in Alabama, Kentucky, Arizona, and more!

Back to Top

Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?

If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.

In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.

Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.

Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.

As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).

While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

Resources for Online College-Bound Students

Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here